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The Energy Blog is where all topics relating to The Energy Revolution are presented. Increasingly, expensive oil, coal and global warming are causing an energy revolution by requiring fossil fuels to be supplemented by alternative energy sources and by requiring changes in lifestyle. Please contact me with your comments and questions. Further Information about me can be found HERE.

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April 07, 2007

Build Yourself a Solar Space Heater

Gary Reysa is a retired airplane product development engineer who lives in the "Big Sky" country near Bozeman Montana. His website Build it Solar has plans, tools, and information to help you build solar projects that save money and reduce pollution. Projects are low cost designs for the do it you selfer. Some of the projects featured on the home page are for a thermal storage wall, building a sun space, plans for passive solar homes, how he is coming on a plan to cut his own energy consumption in half, ten energy saving projects with one year paybacks and a solar space heater.

The simple and inexpensive passive solar space heater that he uses to heat his shop/barn is a project that could be completed in a weekend. The design can be adapted to suit a wide variety of spaces, including a living space.

He has published plans on how to build your own solar space heater system in a six page pdf from Home Power Magazine. Complete plans and instructions include detailed information about how the system operates, how it performs and what costs are involved.

The total cost for the 150 sq ft collector is about $350, and all the materials are available at your local hardware/lumber store. Materials are clear polycarbonate panels, black window screen (for the absorber), 2 x 6's, a couple of 2 x 8's, some 1 x 1's, "wiggle strips," caulking and hardware.

With current energy prices it has a payback of less than a year. The project could be made more aesthetic by using more expensive materials or even cost less if built into a house during construction. A smaller collector might be more appropriate for well insulated buildings.

Comments

Hi,
I'd like to thank The Energy Blog for including information on my solar shop heater -- Thanks! Building your own solar heaters can save a lot of money and GHG.

As mentioned above, adding a 2nd layer of glazing would improve the performance in cold climates. I'm not sure if heat shrink plastic would hold up to the inside of collector stagnation temperatures, or what its life would be. Another way to accomplish the same thing would be to use twinwall polycarbonate glazing -- this would add about 50 cents per sqft, but would be more temperature resistant and more durable. As used on this collector:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/SolarShed/solarshed.htm
Very nice stuff to work with.

I like these type of panels and wonder why they get so little coverage?
They have the fastest pay back cycle.
Few moving parts, so low maintainence.
Some factory made ones are self powered with solar cells.

One think I don't understand, Why has no one incorporated concentrators like on the solar cube. I know this would up the price but it would also allow a smaller footprint for the same effect or greatly increase efficiency.

In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy Sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy.” We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy." The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.

The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, retrofits etc. The source of energy must be by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, Ocean-Tidal, Hydrogen-Fuel Cell etc. This includes the utilizing of water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products and energy efficiency should be reduced or eliminated)

The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)

In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.

A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).

This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors’ commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting, water conservation) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.

"To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."

Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
Mar. 30, 2007

P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
"the way we produce and use energy must fundamentally change."
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.

The Oil Companies should be required to invest a substantial percentage of their profit in renewable energy R&D and implementation. Those who do not will be panelized by the public at large by boy cutting their products.

Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.

Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 2

4 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?

Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence. (Installation should be paid “performance based”).

Installation of renewable energy and its performance should be paid to the installer and manufacturer based on "performance based" (that means they are held accountable for the performance of the product - that includes the automobile industry). This will gain the trust and confidence of the end-user to proceed with such a project; it will also prove to the public that it is a viable avenue of energy conservation.

Installing a renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage. It also decreases our trade deficit.

Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.
The head of the U.S. government's renewable energy lab said Monday (Feb. 5) that the federal government is doing "embarrassingly few things" to foster renewable energy, leaving leadership to the states at a time of opportunity to change the nation's energy future. "I see little happening at the federal level. Much more needs to happen." What's needed, he said, is a change of our national mind set. Instead of viewing the hurdles that still face renewable sources and setting national energy goals with those hurdles in mind, we should set ambitious national renewable energy goals and set about overcoming the hurdles to meet them. We have an opportunity, an opportunity we can take advantage of or an opportunity we can squander and let go,"
solar energy - the direct conversion of sunlight with solar cells, either into electricity or hydrogen, faces cost hurdles independent of their intrinsic efficiency. Ways must be found to lower production costs and design better conversion and storage systems.
FEDERAL BUILDINGS WITH SOLAR ENERGY – Renewable Energy
All government buildings, Federal, State, County, City etc. should be mandated to be energy efficient and must use renewable energy on all new structures and structures that are been remodeled/upgraded.
"The goverment should serve as an example to its citizens"

A sustainable building, or green building is an outcome of a design which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building's lifecycle, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.

Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

Practitioners of green building often seek to achieve not only ecological but aesthetic harmony between a structure and its surrounding natural and built environment, although the appearance and style of sustainable buildings is not necessarily distinguishable from their less sustainable counterparts.

My family and I all used to gather around the gas fireplace within the living room. There is absolutely nothing like being able to start a fire instantly to warm up a chilly room. The greatest part of having a gas fireplace was that we did not have to mess close to with chopping our personal wood, or having it delivered. My wife already hates cleaning up after us throughout the winter with all the snow and mud, so the truth that we didn't have to go out to bring much more wood in was excellent. Plus I mean let's face it, wooden burning fireplaces are a pain to clean. They are fairly hazardous too, particularly with popping wood and flying embers. Too bad we live in Florida now and do not require fireplaces anymore, otherwise we'd still have one!

Our loved ones and friends spend a lot of time in our spacious backyard all year round, so we ended up looking into different fireplace choices that we could use outdoors about the deck. That's where we spend most of the time hanging out. Our buddies and loved ones love sitting and talking by the fireplace! I love cuddling through the fireplace too with my husband! Romantic! We thought we would only wind up using the fireplace on cool nights, but even when it's warm, there is just something mezmerizing and comforting about a crackling fire. We even taking loved ones "camping" trips out to the deck and sleep by the fire! Our kids love it, and we love it even more because they can just go back inside to their video games if they get tired of camping!

Our family and buddies spend lots of time in our spacious backyard all year round, so we ended up searching into different fireplace choices that we could use outdoors on the deck. That's where we spend most of the time hanging out. There's absolutely nothing much more fun than spending an evening around the fireplace with great food and good friends! It makes for a great romantic evening too with my husband and I! We use the fireplace every chance we get, even on warm nights it is still fantastic to have a crackling fire going. Camping out about the deck through the fire has turn out to be a favorite for the kids, and us too because there's no travel time and no packing! Our kids adore it, and we adore it even more because they can just go back inside to their video games if they get tired of camping!

Our family and friends spend a lot of time in our spacious backyard all year round, so we ended up searching into different fireplace options that we could use outdoors on the deck. We spend almost all of our free time outside when we can! There is nothing more fun than spending an evening around the fireplace with good food and great buddies! My husband and I adore relaxing through the fire for a quiet night all to ourselves! We use the fireplace every opportunity we get, even on warm nights it is still wonderful to have a crackling fire going. Camping out on the deck through the fire has turn out to be a favorite for the kids, and us too since there is no travel time and no packing! Our children love it, and we adore it even more because they can just go back inside to their video games if they get tired of camping!

One of the most important benefits of solar home panels is that the power that we derive from them is clean for the environment. It is unlike the traditional sources of power such as the electricity which only produces and contributes pollutants to the environment.Thus, we can go green by using home solar panels !

Solar Air Systems is committed to superior engineering. We are an open source for all other manufacturers’ and provide technical information to the Solar Air Heater Industry. If your considering Solar Air Heater technology, you can visit www.solarairsystems.com

Solar panels have always been expensive, so a low cost installation would be more than welcome. Solar panels mounted on the wall at low level are also a far more attractive proposition.

Halving energy consumption with a one year pay back time is hard to beat. The only drawback would be finding walls big enough to mount the panels, which I suppose is why they have always been mounted on the roof.

The two kinds of heater that are used in households are the space heaters and wall heaters. More modern heaters are now advanced in technology, and they are equipped with features such as touch pads that allow you to adjust the temperature. Pick a space heater that is most convenient and easy for you to use.

I keep meaning to do this with the price of energy bills today and it is only going to get worse. This post has inspired me to take action at last and get it done! You're right it will pay for itself in no time.

There's a new development in solar power technology I heard. A Japanese company used "green ferrite" to generate electricity using solar light AND solar heat. So that should make the 10 year period more likely @Cebu Pacific.